The Cape Town Labour Corps Memorial

The new memorial commemorates by name over 1700 South Africans who served for the military labour corps and died during the First World War. These men were previously unrecognised, with no known grave or commemoration.

Completing this new memorial was the culmination of years of work, starting with the research that led to the identification of these casualties, through to the collaborative design and creation of our new memorial in Cape Town.

This memorial stands not just as a tribute to the past, but as a bridge to the present. By linking the devastating human losses of the First World War to the freedoms we enjoy today, we ensure that history remains a powerful tool for positive change.

The Cape Town Labour Corps Memorial one year on

Telling their stories to a new generation

For over a century, the stories of many Black South African servicemen remained in the shadows. The Cape Town Labour Corps Memorial ensures these men are no longer forgotten, providing a place of memory for their descendants and for our shared history.

How do we bring 100‑year‑old history to life?

Through the South African Elevate programme, students used immersive headset technology and music to step back in time. It connected the youth of today to the stories of the fallen. Education at the Cape Town Labour Corps Memorial goes beyond the classroom. Its tactile design and immersive layout allow us to encourage young people to reflect on what it means to lead with kindness and responsibility. Only by deeply remembering their lasting contribution can we share the past for a better future.

Arguably the Imperial War Graves Commission led the way in facing up to the war’s devastating effects and creating a powerful visual legacy that would ensure the conflict was never forgotten. Yet there were also accusations that creating beautiful and tranquil sites of remembrance was itself a form of denial, sanitising the brutal bloodshed of battle. The war poet Siegfried Sassoon’s scathing criticism of the Menin Gate, with its “intolerably nameless names” comprising a “sepulchre of crime”, is testament to the ire that many felt at these new forms of commemoration. 

"I am inspired to think about my future. I would love to be a good leader. It opened my eyes towards what leadership really is."

AZRAH PHILANDER Student

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Who does the memorial commemorate?

The First World War in Africa was not uniquely a European story.

While the fighting forces of the British Empire during the East African campaign alone exceeded 150,000 men, more than one million Africans served in supporting roles in the same operations, quite literally carrying the burden of battle. Not only did Black people serve on the African continent in greater numbers than Europeans, but they also died in greater numbers.

While the official death toll for British Imperial troops fighting in East Africa was 11,189, it is widely accepted that no fewer than 100,000 African carriers died during the same operations.

The CWGC, working with volunteer researchers including the In From the Cold Project has identified over 1,700 members of South African labour units who will be named on the new memorial. These labour units made an essential contribution to the war effort. 

How did the Military Labour Corps work in South Africa in 1914? 

Thousands of South Africans of colour were recruited for non-combatant military service in Africa during the First World War, through labour units including the Cape Coloured Labour Regiment, Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport, Military Labour Bureau and the South African Military Labour Corps.

However, unlike South Africa’s Native Labour Corps - which would serve in Europe and is known for its connection to the SS Mendi - the significant service of these men has too often been overlooked.

Cape Town Labour CorpS Memorial IN THE COMPANY's GARDEN 

The Company’s Garden has strong ties with the history of the region and the communities that live in Cape Town and across the rest of South Africa.

Our new memorial joins the Iziko South African Museum, the South African National Gallery and the home of the South African government, as well as many other museums, galleries and heritage centres, in this part of Cape Town.

The memorial is situated close to the Delville Wood Memorial within the garden, emphasising the links between the Labour Corps forces and the South African soldiers who fought and died at Delville Wood, and those who served in other theatres around the world. 

Creating the new memorial 

A considered and consultative approach has been taken in the creation of the memorial. We engaged with South Africans and military veterans to determine the most appropriate location.

It was agreed that Cape Town offered great relevance with First World War servicemen enlisting in the City and sailing from there to join comrades in other parts of the world.  

The Delville Wood Memorial Garden in the Company’s Garden was selected as it presented an opportunity to add another layer of observance to the existing First World War memorial.  

Collaborative design 

To find the right design team for the project, we invited submissions from architects from across South Africa.

The winning design needed to meet a series of requirements, commemorating by name the 1700 men of the Military Labour Corps in a manner consistent with the rest of our memorials around the world, while also reflecting the heritage and culture of South Africa.

A creative concept (The Last Post) by Durban-based architectural firm Dean Jay Architects, was selected by a panel as the winning design for the Cape Town Labour Corps Memorial.  

Constructing the memorial 

Construction of the new Cape Town memorial began in March 2024, following the official groundbreaking which included The Mayor of the City of Cape Town Geordin Hill-Lewis and Sidney Maliwa, the Descendent of Magwayi Maliwa one of the servicemen who will be commemorated on the memorial.

The memorial itself is constructed using local materials and techniques. Each serviceman is represented by an individually named African Iroko hardwood post set in to South African Rustenburg granite – a material that is commonly used in our sites around the world.

The posts represent each lost life, showing the scale of contribution made by the Labour Corps. The layout of the site allows visitors contemplate amongst the posts – standing among the men commemorated there.